It usually is. Even where the spouses own property jointly, each spouse owns only an undivided half. Whatever is in the decedent spouse's estate will pass according to the decedent's Will, if there was one, or by the laws of intestacy, if there was not, or in accordance with joint tenancy with right of survivorship or a beneficiary designation.
Virginia Code:64.1-1. Course of descents generally.When any person having title to any real estate of inheritance shall die intestate as to such estate, it shall descend and pass in parcenary to such of his kindred, male and female, in the following course:First. To the surviving spouse of the intestate, unless the intestate is survived by children or their descendants, one or more of whom are not children or their descendants of the surviving spouse, in which case two-thirds of such estate shall pass to all the intestate's children and their descendants and the remaining one-third of such estate shall pass to the intestate's surviving spouse.That means the surviving spouse receives the estate unless the decedent had children that were not also children of the surviving spouse. If there are children from a previous marriage the surviving spouse receives one-third.
Surviving spouses in Colorado are entitled to property that was shared with the deceased partner, even if no will explicitly says so. The survivor also has the ability to be named as the personal representative of the estate.
In general, the estate has primary responsibility, one of the reasons to create an estate. The spouse will typically be responsible for the debt.
If the deed is in JOINT ownership, the survivor gets it automatically. If there is a will, the property goes to whomever it is willed to. If there is no will, the laws of intestacy apply, giving the spouse a share and surviving children a share.
In Missouri, dower rights have largely been replaced by statutory rights, specifically the right of a surviving spouse to claim a share of the deceased spouse's estate. Under Missouri law, if a spouse dies intestate (without a will), the surviving spouse is entitled to a portion of the estate, which can be one-half or one-third depending on whether there are surviving children. Additionally, a spouse has the right to elect against a will, allowing them to claim a statutory share instead of what is provided in the will. Overall, these rights ensure that a surviving spouse is financially protected after the death of their partner.
Technically, the debt has to be resolved by the estate. And as the spouse gets the estate, they will be paying one way or another. And is many cases the spouse benefits from the debt, they can come after the money
If the wife is the mother of the surviving child then she inherits the house according to the section of the Arizona code excerpted below: 14-2102. Intestate share of surviving spouse The following part of the intestate estate, as to both separate property and the one-half of community property that belongs to the decedent, passes to the surviving spouse: 1. If there is no surviving issue or if there are surviving issue all of whom are issue of the surviving spouse also, the entire intestate estate. 2. If there are surviving issue one or more of whom are not issue of the surviving spouse, one-half of the intestate separate property and no interest in the one-half of the community property that belonged to the decedent.
1 Check with an atty Hopefully the decedent had a valid will 2 I was told by an atty for my fathers estate that the surviving spouse cannot be excluded from an estate however children can .Some parts of a persons estate will automatically go to the surviving spouse. It all depends on what in in their estate. Real Property , cash insurance stocks bonds etc , and each item is dealt with separately by law in NYS -I was also told that no matter what the will says if all heirs agree on a different settlement and petition the court for such agreement , the court will agree to the amended settlement.For example if there is a surviving spouse and 3 children and one child does not want their share of their inheritance for any reason (say they don't need/want the money for example) they can give their share to the other siblings and the surviving spouse to be shared . If the spouse and siblings agree they can all petition the court and the court will allow the declining child's share to be split up
Texas law can get very specific as to who has an interest in the intestate estate. Generally speaking, Texas is a community property state and therefore distinguishes between community property and separate property. There are different rules for each type of property. All of the community property belongs to the surviving spouse unless there are heirs that are not related to the surviving spouse. If this is the case, then the spouse will receive one half of the estate while the heirs will have the other half to divide among themselves. If there are no surviving children or heirs then the surviving spouse will inherit the separate property as well.The General order for distribution is:(1)spouse(2)children(3)parents(4)brothers and sisters
Section 43-8-41 ===Share of the spouse:=== The intestate share of the surviving spouse is as follows: (1) If there is no surviving issue (children) or parent of the decedent, the entire intestate estate; (2) If there is no surviving issue but the decedent is survived by a parent or parents, the first $100,000.00 in value, plus one-half of the balance of the intestate estate; (3) If there are surviving issue all of whom are issue of the surviving spouse also, the first $50,000.00 in value, plus one-half of the balance of the intestate estate; (4) If there are surviving issue one or more of whom are not issue of the surviving spouse, one-half of the intestate estate; (5) If the estate is located in two or more states, the share shall not exceed in the aggregate the allowable amounts under this chapter. Section 43-8-42 ===Share of heirs other than surviving spouse:=== The part of the intestate estate not passing to the surviving spouse under section 43-8-41, or the entire intestate estate if there is no surviving spouse, passes as follows: (1) To the issue (children) of the decedent; if they are all of the same degree of kinship to the decedent they take equally, but if of unequal degree, then those of more remote degree take by representation; (2) If there is no surviving issue, to his parent or parents equally; (3) If there is no surviving issue or parent, to the issue of the parents or either of them by representation; (4) If there is no surviving issue, parent or issue of a parent, but the decedent is survived by one or more grandparents or issue of grandparents, half of the estate passes to the paternal grandparents if both survive, or to the surviving paternal grandparent, or to the issue of the paternal grandparents if both are deceased, the issue taking equally if they are all of the same degree of kinship to the decedent, but if of unequal degree those of more remote degree take by representation; and the other half passes to the maternal relatives in the same manner; but if there be no surviving grandparent or issue of grandparent on either the paternal or the maternal side, the entire estate passes to the relatives on the other side in the same manner as the other half.
If a joint loan on a recreational vehicle is awarded to one spouse in a divorce decree and that spouse dies before the loan is paid off, the responsibility for the loan typically falls on the surviving spouse, depending on the loan agreement and state laws. The lender may still hold the deceased spouse's estate liable for the debt, meaning the estate could be responsible for paying it off. If the surviving spouse wants to keep the vehicle, they may need to refinance or assume the loan. It’s advisable for the surviving spouse to consult with a legal professional to understand their rights and obligations in this situation.
There are contradictions in your question. If the person you refer to as your spouse already has a wife then your "marriage" isn't legal. A person can only have one surviving spouse. If you mean to say there is an ex-wife then you are the surviving spouse under most state intestacy laws. If a person dies without a will, their estate passes to heirs-at-law under state laws of intestacy. The laws are somewhat different in each state. Some states pass all the property to the surviving spouse unless there are minor children. Some states give a share to adult children. You can check the laws in your state at the related question ink provided below.